Tie-rod end construction



March 10, 1931.

TIE ROD END CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 19 1925 5y &

1 ATTQR/VEK F. c. CRAWFORD 1,796,142

Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orr ca FREbE'RICK C. CRAWFORD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'IO THOMPSOH YRODUCTS INQ, OIF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TIE-ROD END consrntrctrron Application filed December 19, 1925. Serial No. 76,450.

The invention relates to constructions for the ends of tie rods or connecting rods. As is well known, the tie rod or connecting rod of an automobile is that rod which connects one arm of a front steering knuckle to a like arm on the opposite sideito compel simultaneous turning of the front wheels when one of the steering knuckles is moved by the operation of the steering wheel. This invention is particularly applicable to such a tie rod, but

1t is applicable also to any rod to the end of which it is desired to connect a ball joint.

The object of the invention is to lessen the manufacturing costs of such constructions without sacrificing the advantages of prior devices of this character, and at the same time secure additional advantages as will appear from the following description.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed. The invention is capable of embodiment in various forms and combinations, but the best form which I have thus far contemplated is shown in the annexed drawings and which I shall now proceed to describe.

Referring to the annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the end of the tie rod and ball joint} Fig. 2 is a bottom member, disconnected from the tie rod;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the end member.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the end member shown in Fig. 3:, looking at the left hand end;

Fig. 5 is an underside plan view of the end member shown inFig. 3;

plan of the tie rod end Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view' through the ball casing; and

Fig. 7'is an underside plan View of the ball casing as shown in Fig. 6. Referring to the drawings in detail, a tie rod as contemplated by my invention is made up of two tie rod end members, and an intermediate member 1, threaded at opposite ends, one end having right-hand and the other left-hand threads, whereby, by rotating it, the ball studs, at its ends, hereinafter described, maybe adjusted toward or away from each other, for a purpose well known to those skilled in the art.

The tie rod end members, designated generally by 2, are alike except that one is adapted to the right-hand thread and the other to the left-hand thread of the intermediate member, and except for another slight difference hereinafter pointed out, adapting it to its appropriate end; therefore but one of the ends will be described.

The tie rod end member 2 is made in the form of a stamping from flat metal stock, in which feature resides one of its most impor tant advantages. It comprises a ball-joint housing 2a, shaped out of an intermediate portion of the metal stock, open at the top and bottom, drawn in slightly about the top,

as indicated at 3, but of uniform diameter therebelow. The lower portion of this ball joint housing is provided with a recess 4 preferably cut out of the lower edge thereof at its outermost point, and with a plurality of apertures 5 (Fig. 3) adapted to receive a cotter pin 6. The ends of the metal stock are extended laterally from the ball joint housing, forming adjacent wings 7, each wing being formed into semi-cylindrical shape, internally threaded as indicated at 8, (Fig. 3), with a downwardly projecting flange 9, pierced by bolt receiving apertures 10, adapted to receive bolts 11, with which theflanges are brought together to firmly clamp the end members to the threaded ends of the rod intermediate and simultaneously to a ball casing 14, hereinafter described. The side of'the housing 2a is provided with a lubricating aperture 12.-

To serve as a retaining means and bearing for a ball stud 13, a ball casing 14 is provided of cylindrical form, drawn in at the top, which snugly fits within the ball joint housing. This casing may be made in any of the known ways of makin such parts, but preferably by-stamping. 'fim lower end of the ball casing is internally threaded, as indicated at 15, thus being adapted to receive an externally threaded retaining plug 16, to retain a ball seat 17 in position to serve as a bearing for the ball 18, of the ball stud 13. The lower end of the ball casing has small portion of the metal.

' rically opposite points,

- spring in a recess 24 in the 19, preferably bending out a This lug 19 is adapted to engage in the recess 1 formed in the lower edge of the housing 2a and serves an outwardly extending lug formed by striking up and to hold the ball casing against turning within the housing and also to properly register the lubricating aperture 12 in the ball casing, hereinafter described. The ball casing 14 has near the lower edge a plurality of small cotter pi-n receiving apertures 20, adapted to register with the apertures 5 of the housing 2a. Above themiddle portion of the ball casing 14, two lubricating apertures 21 pierce the wall of the. casing at diameteither of which may be registered with the lubricating aperture 12 formed in the housing 2a. The reason for employing two diametrically opposite aperturese21 in the ball casing although there is but one in the housing 2a, is in order that the ball casing may be used at either end. vThe end members 2 themselves must be made right and left hand, but the ball casing 14 is adapted for use in either end, one of the lubricating apertures being inutile; but as it is closed by the imperforate wall of the housing 2a this fact does not interfere with proper functioning. In the outer end of the retainingplug 16 a kerf 22 is formed, adapted to receive the shank of the cotter pin 6. P

Between the upper end of. the retaining plug 16 and the ball seat 17 an anti-rattling spring 23 is interposed, preferably by seating the upper end of the plug.

After wear has-taken place in the balljoint, the retalnmg plug 16 may be turned for this pur ose. In

i the ball jlointhousing. tion of t as ball stud assembly up to take up any looseness in the joint, the plurality of apertures 5 and 20 in the housing and ball casing permitting a fine adjustment 7 the embodiment shown on arm 25 o' the steering knuckle is engaged with the shank 13 of the ball stud. Any su1t-' able' packing and spacing means and dust cover may be interposed between the top 3 of the housing and the connected arm 25.

Notwithstanding the apparent simplicity of the construction above described a number of features are of great importance. By formingthe tiered end member of a stamping the cost of the tie rodis very substantially reduced. By. reason of thearrangement shown two clam ing bolts serve to securely engage the en member with the intermediate tie rod member and at the same time securely clamp sembled ball. stud and ball seat m e ball-joint is provided in .a very simple yet efiicient way. I By the means adopted a single ball casing serves at either end of the tied, which lessens the costof production as well as cost of assembling. The is a unitary structure, as

and capable of ready adjustment to meet all the ball casing and as lace in Means for 'ubrica- 7 tered from the larger end of the ball casing 14, shank first, until the shank passes through the contracted opening 14' at the. top of the ball casing. The ball seat may then be inserted and pressed against the ball 18, after which the screw threaded plug is inserted.

In this unitary form the ball joint assembly may be handled until it is desired to assemble it with the ball joint housing, when this unitary structure may be passed into the larger end of the housing, ball shank first, and the whole secured in place by inserting the cotter pin 6 in the appropriate apertures of the housing and ball casing.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a construction which meets all the requirements ofdevices of this kind, which may be manufactured at asmall cost, yet which is safe, strong and durable,

conditions. While have described specific details of the best form of the invention now. known to me, may be varied greatly in structure, and that different features thereof may be used with other features which may differ greatly from those shown. Itis therefore to be understood .that the invention includes all structures comprehended within the terms of the apended claims.

What I claim is: j 1. A tie-rod end construction consisting of a stamping comprising a ball-joint housing and clamping wings extending therefrom at a right angle thereto each wing having a semicylindrical internally threaded ortion and a lower flange, a ball casing seate in the housit is obvious that the parts ing, an externally threaded tie-rod seated in 1 the internally threaded wing extensions, and means .engaging'the wing flanges to draw the stamping tightly into engagement with the tie-rod and the ball casing.

2. In a rod coupling, in combination, a

stamping comprising a tubular ball-joint housing having an up er contracted end and clamping wings exten ing therefrom at ri htangles thereto adapted to engage an be clamped to a tie-rod, a tubular ball-seat having an up er contracted end to fit the contracted end 0 the'ball-joint housing, and a ball studhaving its ball seated in the ball seat with its shank extending upwardly through the contracted end of said seat.

' 3. A tie rod end construction comprising a ball jointhousing, a ball casing in said housing, claim in wings extending therefrom at a right ang e t ereto and adapted to simultaneously engage a tie rod end and the ball casing, the ball joint housing and the end of theball casing having a coacting projection and indentation,and means to draw the wing sections tightly about the ball casing.

4. An end construction for a .tie rod comprising a housing, clamping wings on said ing, means for interlocking said housing and housin adaptedto encircle an end of a tie rod, a ball joint casing in said housing, and means for securing said Wings together, whereby to clamp said housing on sand. casing and said tie rod end.

5. An end construction for a tie rod comprising a housing, clamping Wings on said housin adapted to encircle an end of a tie rod, a call casing in said housing, means for interlocking said housing and casing, and means for securing said Wings together, whereby to clamp said housing on sa1d casing and said tie rod end.

6. The combination specified in claim 5 in which the means for interlocking the housv ing and casing consist of a projection on one of said elements and a recess in the other.

7. A tie rod end construction consisting of a stamping comprising a ball joint housing and clamping Wings extending therefrom at a right angle thereto, a ball casing seated therein, and means for interlocking said housing and casing comprising a lug struck from the lower edge of one of said elements and en gaged in a notch in the lower edge of said I other element.

8. A device for joining the end of a pair of rods including a ball joint connection comprising a housing having a pair of clamping Wings extending therefrom and adapted to encircle an end of one of said rods, a ball joint casing in said housing, a ball stud in said cascasing and means for securing said clamping Wings together to thereby clamp said housing about said casing and said end of one of said rods.

9. An end construction for a tie rod comprising a housing including a tubular portion having a restricted upper end, clamping Wings on said housing adapted to encircle the end-of a tie rod, a ball casing having a restricted upper end situated in said housing, means for interlockingsaid housing and casing and means for securing said Wings to gether Yvhereby to clamp the tubular portion tion being split, coacting flanges along the edges formed by said split, a ball casing in said housing, and means for securing said flanges together to clamp said first tubular portion 01. said casing and said second tubular portion about said tie rod end.

Signed by me this 25th day of November, 1925.

FREDERICK C. CRAWFORD. 

